The path to completing the American Place Resort and Casino in Waukegan, Illinois, has been cleared following a major legal victory for Full House Resorts. The Illinois Supreme Court recently put an end to a prolonged lawsuit that had put the project on hold since 2023. The litigation, which was filed by the Forest County Potawatomi tribe, had delayed construction plans for months but has now been dismissed, allowing Full House to resume work on the permanent facility.
Legal hurdles overcome:
As soon as Full House’s senior vice president, Alex Stolyar, received the news of the court’s ruling, he expressed relief and optimism for the project’s future. In a statement reported by the Chicago Tribune, Stolyar shared, “We can now get back to working with our architects and engineers to complete construction plans. We will be working diligently to make sure we open by the current August 2027 deadline for the temporary casino operations.” This marks a significant step forward, as the temporary casino, located on the same site, has been operating since February 2023.
The case against Full House began when the Potawatomi tribe challenged the Illinois Gaming Board’s decision to issue a casino license to Full House in 2021. Potawatomi, a prominent gaming operator based in Wisconsin, had been one of several bidders for the Waukegan casino license, but the city council ultimately chose Full House over Potawatomi. The tribe filed a lawsuit claiming that the process was unfair, citing concerns over the accuracy of a third-party report that undervalued their proposal. Potawatomi argued that the decision was influenced by improper actions, including the alleged involvement of Waukegan’s Mayor Sam Cunningham.
Despite Potawatomi’s efforts, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the lower court had correctly dismissed the case. In its opinion, the court concluded that the gaming board had acted within its legal rights when it issued the license to Full House, and that the city of Waukegan had every right to reject Potawatomi’s proposal. The court emphasized that the gaming board’s decision could not be revoked due to issues with the city’s statutory compliance.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor was overjoyed by the decision, which she believes will have far-reaching benefits for the city. “I’m so excited about this opportunity, and what it does for us,” Taylor said. “This is good not only for the income, but it will also bring a lot of tourists. It’s what we’ve really been waiting for.”
The legal battle had caused significant delays for Full House, which had to pause its plans for the permanent casino while the case was in the courts. With the lawsuit now resolved, Stolyar emphasized that the company is ready to move forward. “We are excited that this roadblock blocking economic development for Waukegan and Illinois has been removed and we can continue to work to make this exciting project a reality,” he said.
Economic boost and project details:
Once completed, the American Place Resort and Casino will feature a 20-suite luxury hotel, complete with high-end amenities such as a helipad. The casino itself will include 100 table games, 1,640 slot machines, and a 1,500-seat entertainment venue. The permanent facility is expected to bring significant economic growth to Waukegan, attracting both tourists and local residents alike.
The Waukegan casino project has faced opposition from various groups, but Full House’s victory in the courts sets the stage for a brighter future. In addition to the benefits for the local economy, the project is also expected to create thousands of jobs and generate millions in revenue for the state of Illinois.
As Full House works to finalize construction plans, the company remains committed to meeting the ambitious 2027 deadline for the completion of the American Place resort. Despite the setbacks, Stolyar expressed confidence in the project’s future. “We can now focus on turning this vision into a reality for Waukegan and the surrounding community,” he said.
While the Illinois Supreme Court has put an end to the lawsuit over the casino license, the Potawatomi tribe has filed a separate civil rights lawsuit against Waukegan, which is still ongoing in federal court. The tribe’s legal team continues to argue that they were unfairly excluded from the bidding process, but the federal case is unlikely to impact Full House’s progress on the casino project.
As the situation stands, Full House is eager to proceed with its plans, confident that the legal challenges are behind them for now. However, it may still face additional hurdles in the future, depending on the outcome of the ongoing federal case.
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Vanja Mitic 2025-01-26 14:46:05
